Hershey Bears unveil new uniforms, announce formation of club Hall of Fame

When he worked for the NHL, Joe Bosack designed the logo and uniforms of the Colorado Avalanche, then affiliated with the Hershey Bears.

Hershey Bears ice hockey season ticket holders appreciation night at the Giant Center. Scott Stuccio, voice of the Bears, addresses the crowd at right. Standing from left is team trainer Dan Stuck, team president and general manager Doug Yingst, goaltender Dany Sabourin, and former players Mitch Lamoureux, Dave Parro and Frederic Cassivi.
(DAN GLEITER, The Patriot-News)

Now Bosack, whose The Joe Bosack Graphic Design Co. is based in Pottsville, has designed uniforms for the Bears as well.

The new look, blending historic Hershey colors with an aggressive-posture bear as the logo centerpiece, was unveiled Wednesday night at Giant Center as the Bears eye their 75th anniversary AHL season in 2012-13.

“What we were trying to do was a modern-day sports logo that was able to function in all of those [modern marketing] capacities,” Bosack said, “but also be respectful to the history -- the storied history, really -- of this franchise.”

Traditional Hershey brown has replaced maroon in the team color scheme. Bears President-GM Doug Yingst said the team began using maroon when uniform manufacturer CCM stopped offering brown as a color, but current manufacturer Reebok is now making brown available.

“We wanted to do something that flashed back something that had to do with our history and tradition that the Hershey Bears represent,” Yingst said.

Retired Bears Dave Parro, Mitch Lamoureux and Frederic Cassivi, along with current Bears goalie Dany Sabourin, modeled the new jerseys for a crowd that Yingst estimated at 3,000.

“I think they're pretty cool,” Parro said. “They have the chocolate and white, and they look very sharp. It's a good change.

“It is very classic. They went back to the original colors. It looks great.”

Yingst also announced the formation of a Hershey Bears Hockey Club Hall of Fame. The idea had gestated for about 20 to 25 years, Yingst said, and finally came to fruition in time for the club's diamond anniversary season.

The first Hall of Fame class is scheduled to be inducted on Dec. 19, which is also Hersheypark Arena's anniversary.

“It's going to be an exciting evening,” Yingst said. “We're going to induct seven different members to the inaugural class of the Hershey Bears Hall of Fame.”

The first seven inductees are slated to be announced at a future date. The Hershey Bears Hockey Club Hall of Fame will be located on the Giant Center concourse.

“I think I might have coached some guys who maybe in future years would have the opportunity to be in that,” Bears head coach Mark French said.

“I think hall of fames may be an overused word. But I think in Hershey's situation, it's certainly going to honor people in terms of a long-standing tradition of excellence. I think, in this case, it's very appropriate that it's coming along at this point in time.”

NOTEBOOK

“Red Rising,” a new book on the Washington Capitals written by Ted Starkey of the Washington Times, has been published by ECW Press.

ON TWITTER: @timleone

Editor's Note: Tim Leone is a member of the Hershey Bears Hockey Club Hall of Fame committee.

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